permacomputing

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silver_bullet.mdwn (944B)

      1 **Silver bullet** is a metaphor for an effective and universal solution for
      2 any problem. In computing, the metaphor was notably used in Fred Brooks'
      3 1986 essay "No Silver Bullet".
      4 
      5 The belief in silver bullets is quite popular in computing. Many
      6 computing-oriented people are vocal fanatics of a single programming
      7 language, a single operating system or a single design paradigm, that is
      8 better than its "competitors" in every context and will eventually make them
      9 [[obsolete|obsolescence]].
     10 
     11 Since [[technological diversity]] is an important idea in permacomputing,
     12 silver-bullet type of thinking should be avoided. Instead of putting ideas
     13 or pieces of technology in a universal linear order of superiority, one
     14 should be aware of different contexts. The strengths in one context may be
     15 weaknesses in others. The "best practice" of a specific context may be an
     16 "antipattern" in another context.
     17 
     18 Permacomputing is not a silver bullet either.